Whether you’re looking for two romantic dinners or looking for a quick and easy family meal, check out this Greek-style Air Fried Cornish Hens recipe. Air Fryer Cornish Hens takes less than 30 minutes to prepare. Serve with air fries wedges and Greek cucumber salad.
Is it just me or do anyone think these little chickens are so cute? They have a great flavour and are the perfect size. One chicken can feed two individuals. They are soft, juicy and have attractive, crispy skin.
If you eat one by yourself, I won’t judge. I did the same thing too. wur But I shared it with the fur baby, Holly and Winston. They love it and highly recommend the recipe!
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😍 Why do you like this recipe?
This Greek-style Air Fried Cornish Hens recipe is perfect for those on a low carb or keto diet. Chicken is high in protein, low in carbohydrates, and creates healthy lunch and dinner options.
If you’re cooking only one hen for yourself, you can have half of the next night. Or use leftovers to lunch my Killer Rotissary Chicken Salad.
I used Ninja Foods to prepare the Air Fried Cornish Hens. It’s like morphing an instant pot with an air fryer. Comfortable to fit one Cornish chicken or two Cornish chickens snugly. I also love using it to make these delicious air fryer BBQ chicken wings.
The size of the air fryer is important. An air fryer like this I bought for my daughter (sponsored link) can only go well with one chicken at a time. Cooking times and instructions are the same when frying one or two chickens at a time.
Fund Materials and Alternatives
Cornish Game Hens: You can usually find Cornish Hens in the frozen meat section of most grocery stores. Most game hen weighs about 11/2 pounds, which is enough to feed two people. This recipe will marinate enough to marinate the three Cornish Game Hens. Olive Oil: If you don’t have olive oil, you can use avocado oil instead. Lemon Juice: I like to use freshly squeezed lemon juice if possible. However, bottled lemon juice is also available. Garlic: When I add garlic to any recipe, I always use fresh garlic. Garlic powder is acceptable, but there is never any garlic in the jar. Herbs: Greek marinated chicken most often contains oregano. However, thyme and rosemary are also great choices. Spices: Sea salt, black pepper, and paprika are the seasonings you need in your marinade. However, you can add cayenne pepper to add heat. Or use a Mediterranean spice blend instead!
How to Fry Cornish Chicken
Step 1: Wash the chicken in cold water and dry with a paper towel. In a small bowl, mix olive oil, lemon juice, crushed garlic, oregano, sea salt, black pepper, and paprika. Place the Cornish chicken in a large ziplock bag and pour the marinade over the entire Cornish chicken. Make sure you marinate for at least a few hours.
Step 2: Preheat the air fryer at 375°F for 5 minutes. Place the Cornish chicken in an air fryer basket and place it on the chest side. Air fry for 13 minutes. Using tongs, carefully turn the chicken over and saute for another 12 minutes.
Pro Tip: Use a meat thermometer to test the internal temperature. The breast temperature should be at least 165°F. Alternatively, check the thigh temperature and make sure it is 180°F. You need to cook for 1-2 minutes longer.
Pro Tip: Tent Cornish Hens and let rest for 5-10 minutes before slice.
You may also be interested in trying this delicious ninja food roast chicken!
Cornish chicken and what to offer
These Cornish Hens can be served in the same way as other chicken recipes. Try scalloped potatoes, cream cheese garlic bread, air fried green tomatoes, air fryer rosemary potatoes, French onion fries, or these delicious Ninja dual air fryer tips!
How to store leftovers in Cornish Hen
Store the leftovers of Cornish Game Hen in an airtight container in the fridge and consume within 3-4 days. You can also put leftovers in a frozen bag and consume them within three months.
Reheat Cornish Hens
You can reheat the Cornish hen in the microwave for about a minute (covered with a damp paper towel), but the skin will no longer be crispy. Instead, reheat in the oven (350°F, 10-15 minutes). Better yet, reheat the chicken in a 375°F air fryer for 5 minutes. Check after 3 minutes depending on the size of the leftovers to prevent the chicken from drying out.
🤷🏻♀️Recipe FAQ
Thaw the refrigerated chicken in the fridge for 24 hours to avoid bacterial growth. Another option is to thaw the frozen chicken in a large bowl of cold water. Place the chicken in the packaging to prevent water from absorbing. Change water every 30 minutes until the chicken is completely thawed.
Yes, poultry should be rinsed with cold water and dried with a paper towel before cooking.
Cornish Hens is a chicken seeds. They are young and are kept to be slaughtered during bidding. You must weigh less than 2 pounds. Most Cornish chickens weigh about 1.5 pounds, but regular chicken weighs about 5 pounds.
Cornish hens are slaughtered around 5 weeks of age, making them soft and flavorful. Surprisingly, they also contain lower fat and cholesterol and higher protein than grown chickens.
Preheat oven to 350°F
•Seasoned/marinated chicken in a roasting pan and place it on the chest side.
• Roast hens are not covered for an hour. Depending on the size of the Cornish chicken, it should be cooked for 10-15 minutes longer. Or until the instant thermometer’s internal temperature (insert into the thigh) reaches 180°F.
•Bake chicken occasionally.
• If necessary, raise the heat to 400°F for the brown chicken in the final 10 minutes.
Pro tips
When preparing the Air Fryer Cornish Hens, some people choose to truss the shaped bird first to retain their shape. It also prevents the wings from being heated. If you want to truss chicken, it’s here. The chicken is marinated in olive oil and the basket is non-stick, so there is no need to spray cooking spray on the air fryer pan. When splitting the chicken between two people, use kitchen scissors (affiliate links) to cut it in half. Cooking times vary depending on the size of the Game Hens. The mines were about 11/2 pounds each. If yours is small or large, you will need to adjust the cooking time. When disinfecting work surfaces and using raw chicken, don’t forget to wash your hands regularly to avoid cross-contamination.
♨️Other Air Fryer Recipes
Looking for other simple poultry recipes that can be prepared with an air fryer? If so, you will definitely want to try these delicious air fryer boneless chicken thighs and these simple and delicious air fryer frozen feather wings when I’m short on time.
Below are other recipes you can create with the Air Fryer.
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📖Recipe
Air Fryer Cornish Hens
Looking for two romantic dinners or enjoy a family meal with ease right away.
method
Wash the chicken in cold water and tap it lightly with a paper towel. In a small bowl, mix olive oil, lemon juice, crushed garlic, oregano, sea salt, black pepper, and paprika. Place the Cornish hens in a large ziplock bag and pour the marinade over the entire Cornish chicken. Make sure you marinate for at least a few hours.
Preheat the air fryer at 375°F for 5 minutes. Place the Cornish chicken in an air fryer basket and place it on the chest side. Air fry for 13 minutes. Using tongs, carefully turn the chicken over and saute for another 12 minutes.
Use a meat thermometer to test the internal temperature. The breast temperature should be at least 165°F. Alternatively, check the thigh temperature and make sure it is 180°F. You need to cook for 1-2 minutes longer.
nutrition
Note
When preparing the Air Fryer Cornish Hens, some people choose to truss the shaped bird first to retain their shape. It also prevents the wings from being heated. If you want to truss chicken, it’s here. The chicken is marinated in olive oil and the basket is non-stick, so there is no need to spray cooking spray on the air fryer pan. When splitting the chicken between two people, use kitchen scissors (affiliate links) to cut it in half. Cooking times vary depending on the size of the Game Hens. The mines each cost around 1.5 pounds. If yours is small or large, you will need to adjust the cooking time. Tent Cornish Hens and allow to rest for 5-10 minutes before slice. Don’t forget to disinfect the work surface. When operating raw poultry, wash your hands regularly to avoid cross-contamination.
